A Study in Terror (1965)
Jul 17, 2010Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper
Largely forgotten Sherlock Holmes entry that was the first film to pit Holmes against Jack the Ripper. Both sides are treated with respect amid lush production values
Judi Dench
GoldenEye (1995)
Feb 1, 2001James Bond Film
The 17th James Bond film, the first featuring Pierce Brosnan who gives a dazzlingly ruthless performance. The series is rebooted and takes the opportunity to reconstruct the mythos in terms of modern politics in ways that often take you aback
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Nov 19, 1999James Bond Film
Pierce Brosnan's second outing as James Bond holds up fairly well, especially in the action department, although Jonathan Pryce seems miscast as a Rupert Murdoch-modeled super-villain
The World is Not Enough (1999)
Nov 20, 1999James Bond Film
The third and best of Pierce Brosnan's outings as James Bond. All the aspects of the formula are contained within a strong plot and Sophie Marceau proves a standout in a role that combines both villain and love interest
Chocolat (2000)
Jan 19, 2001Magical Realism
Magical Realism film where Juliette Binoche's magic chocolates serve to unleash passions in a conservative French village. An incredibly overrated film that was for some reason nominated for an Academy Award Best Picture
Die Another Day (2002)
Jan 11, 2003James Bond Film
Pierce Brosnan's final outing as James Bond lacks the sharpness of the preceding entries and is hampered by Halle Berry who is given great presence but nothing to do. Despite which this has some of the best action scenes of any Bond film
Home on the Range (2004)
Oct 4, 2004Disney Animation/Talking Cattle
The last hand-drawn animated film from Disney and one of their few flops, but by no means unlikeable. The premise of talking cows setting out on a quest gives this a madcap eccentricity
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
Aug 14, 2004Intergalactic Adventures
The sequel to Pitch Black where Vin Diesel's serial killer now becomes the hero of the show and the original planetary survival story is expanded out into an ornate Gothic space opera
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
May 20, 2011Pirate Fantasy Swashbuckler
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is revived for a fifth outing. There is a new director in Rob Marshall but bar an energetic comic opening, he never does much that hits the zany heights of the previous entries
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Oct 29, 2016Secret Home for "Gifted" Youths
Tim Burton used to be the great hope of fantastic cinema but his efforts since 2000 have been greeted with general disappointment. This Young Adult adaptation plays out like a fantasy version of the X-Men
Cats (2019)
Mar 29, 2020Musical/Singing Cats
The film version of the smash Andrew Lloyd Webber musical phenomenon was widely ridiculed. Seen, it is a colourful and absorbing entity and by no means as bad as its rap gives it
Artemis Fowl (2020)
Jun 20, 2020Young Adult/Child Genius vs the Magical Underworld
Adaptation of the popular Young Adult series about a twelve-year-old super-villain and his adventures with assorted magical creatures. Audiences hated this but I though it overspilled with a madcap creativity
The Magic Faraway Tree (2026)
Jul 18, 2026Magical Tree Adventures
Adaptation of a book by famous children’s writer Enid Blyton about a series of adventures in a magical tree. Blyton would be turning in her grave at some of the changes and modernisations